QuoteJon WillisAnyway, that's my experience of The Work - in response to something that Anticult asked in an earlier post, I'm not a huge fan of it being called The Work. Feel self-conscious about capitalizing now, but for me that's just about avoiding confusing between work and the process called The Work. I look forward to seeing what's posted. Jon Jon, I used to be a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotevlindenYou might think "insane" is too harsh, but I think there's something in her eyes that, to me, just instantly raises the "wacko" red flag. Also, because of the nature of her books, her appearance is very incongruous to me. She looks like a Miami Beach widow on the make. This is the woman who lives purely in her spirit?? With that hair?? Let's not forget ab
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

They just did the launch of the Eckhart Tolle on Oprah, for the web seminar... The video clips were designed to DISARM your objections... #1) Christian Objections: they showed a nice Christian lady saying how Eckhart Tolle's book A NEW EARTH is totally compatible with Christianity, and is NOT some New Age fluff. This is to TRY to stop the by the book US Christians from crucifying Toll
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You might think "insane" is too harsh, but I think there's something in her eyes that, to me, just instantly raises the "wacko" red flag. Also, because of the nature of her books, her appearance is very incongruous to me. She looks like a Miami Beach widow on the make. This is the woman who lives purely in her spirit?? With that hair??
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

When I saw the pictures of Byron Katie on her book jackets, my first reaction was -- this woman is insane. She looks very disturbing to me, and quite phony. Just based on the pictures I would never in a million years read her books.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey there, My name's Jon - as you'll see from my user profile. I'm intrigued by what's going on here - I admit I don't know much about cults, as I've never been involved in one, at least not consciously :-) I use The Work regularly (the process of asking the 4 questions and trying out the turnarounds), which I do see as something quite separate from anything t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, I did a search on Google for "Byron Katie blogs" to see what would come up. I found several blogs kept by Byron Katie followers. I also searched for "facilitator Byron Katie" and found websites by people advertising their "skills" and abilities to free others of suffering through The Work. One thing that all of these blogs and websites by Byron Katie fanatic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSarahLIf you haven't already done so, run a search here on this site, some good threads on them both. I've looked over some info on Tolle and stay clear of him and anyone like him. Loaded confusing language is used (a.k.a. mumbo jumbo), focus is encouraged on his eyes and appearance, all too much like most every other charlatan. quite frankly, i think in that photo of Tolle (tha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotecorboyDear Guruphobic, I didnt post your material on Guruphiliac, either. Am sorry you're going through this. i didn't post anything on Guruphiliac either, Shad
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Guruphobic, I didnt post your material on Guruphiliac, either. Am sorry you're going through this.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

yes, by the way, just to be super-duper clear..I did NOT paste Guruphobiac to Guruphiliac's site... As I mentioned before, I did not even post a couple of things I glanced at that appeared to be copied from my OWN text on Guruphiliac. But as someone has been posting around on the Internets for a while, you know that happens all the time, and there is nothing one can do about it. Even big
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sorry that happened Guruphobiac. I saw that there, and thought maybe you had done it yourself. Ouch. Imagine having a little snippet of one of your posts here pasted into Guruphiliac's blog, being taken a bit out of context, and inspiring 83+ comments/arguments? I'm not justifying it, I'm just saying... it is rather disturbing to find your words that were posted here posted e
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hey! there are some excellent posts Responding to some of the Byron Katie programming here. Fantastic stuff, really interesting, could work for any culty group... About Eckhart Tolle, there is another thread just about him only. Maybe we could use that one for him? The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle Guruphobiac...hey, I feel your pain, I have had some of my text posted various places
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quoteal3r About 3.5 million copies of Eckhart Tolle's spiritual self-help guide have been shipped since Winfrey announced her selection four weeks ago. The book has topped the best-seller list on Amazon.com virtually from the moment Winfrey's choice was revealed and is the fastest-selling pick ever at Barnes & Noble Inc., according to a statement issued yesterday by Winfrey. qu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Someone, without my permission, reposted on Guruphiliac my post about how I had once corresponded with Carol Skolnick. That is totally uncool, and whoever did that owes me a major apology.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, I went to Guruphiliac's site to read the comments after what helpme2times posted. Carol Skolnick's comments were really trippy. Someone called her a person more "seasoned" with The Work, and that is really obvious. Here's an "insider's" perspective of what Carol Skolnick had to say: (Again my comments are in bold.) I'm a long-time reader and
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Oh dear... now Oprah is moving Tolle into the world? What's next? -jj Quoteal3rIt looks like you are right, Tolle seems to really be cashing in right now. Even for an Oprah Winfrey book pick, A New Earth has been a sensation. About 3.5 million copies of Eckhart Tolle's spiritual self-help guide have been shipped since Winfrey announced her selection four weeks ago. The
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It looks like you are right, Tolle seems to really be cashing in right now. Even for an Oprah Winfrey book pick, A New Earth has been a sensation. About 3.5 million copies of Eckhart Tolle's spiritual self-help guide have been shipped since Winfrey announced her selection four weeks ago. The book has topped the best-seller list on Amazon.com virtually from the moment Winfrey's cho
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am a psychotherapist and author who does not believe that happiness and fulfillment in life is as simple as so many successful speakers/authors out there would have us believe. There is something understandably very attractive about these approaches -- like those of Byron Katie, Eckhart Tolle and Rhonda Byrne's gang of self-help hucksters. The Secret really got my attention a while back, b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Why are you starting another thread? See There is already a thread about Eckert Tolle.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Just what is the New Earth anyway? From the NYT, A New Earth has been a sensation. About 3.5 million copies of Eckhart Tolle's spiritual self-help guide have been shipped since Winfrey announced her selection four weeks ago. Has anyone read this book? I'm curious.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Alleged Cross fertilization between a Hindu Yoga Outfit (SY), NLP and EST in the 1980s If you read through this comments section following an article on a blog written by a former member of this Hindu Yoga group (SY---led by a female guru, BTW) some former members discuss ties between that group and EST. It will take some time to read through all the comments (some even include tips on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteZentienthttp://boards.crimelibrary.com/archive/index.php/t-280572.html Check out the post by serendipitous1, 2/23/07 4:56. One of Katie's followers may have committed murder. There is not much out there about this. Some of you who are more adept than me with Internet searches may be able to find out more. Gadzooks, Zentient, nice cyber-sleuthing!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Check out the post by serendipitous1, 2/23/07 4:56. One of Katie's followers may have committed murder. There is not much out there about this. Some of you who are more adept than me with Internet searches may be able to find out more.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotejj52P.S. Does any one else think that BK looks EVIL in this picture on wikipedia? I find it rather disturbing. Yeah. I think she looks quite like the evil twin of JZ Knight, "channeler" of the dead dude Ramtha. (This would be a case in which BOTH twins are evil. Bwahahahaha.)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteGuruphobiacSome years ago I corresponded with Carol Skolnick, before she hooked up with Byron Katie. I met her via the various incarnations of the ex-SY lists. SY is Siddha Yoga, the Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi cult. I joined and mostly lurked on those lists as I had been part of a yoga-based guru-centered cult that shared some similarities with Siddha Yoga. Carol had been pretty badly burn
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some years ago I corresponded with Carol Skolnick, before she hooked up with Byron Katie. I met her via the various incarnations of the ex-SY lists. SY is Siddha Yoga, the Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi cult. I joined and mostly lurked on those lists as I had been part of a yoga-based guru-centered cult that shared some similarities with Siddha Yoga. Carol had been pretty badly burned in the cult a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotejj52QuoteThe Shadowp.s. I'm glad you kept Issac, jj Thanks! Me too. I can see the differences between your experience and the one at The School. Not only did you give something, you got something... and it wasn't "something of value". It actually sounds like a very sweet experience... not one that would leave you wondering how you were going to get back across the c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, now that we know Carol Skolnick's conversion story... I'd like to share my experience getting involved with The Work. A woman I was acquainted with, Sherry, gave me Byron Katie's book on CD to borrow. Of course, it was one of those "You need this, take it" kind of borrows... it's not like I asked for it. Sherry was the member of a small cult-like group downt
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yet another research resource: Get, and read Prophetic Charisma 1997 Syracuse University Press by Len Oakes. Oakes is a research psychologist/clinician and after being in a commune led by a charismatic leader, he left, and decided to research how people become charismatic leaders. Oakes was able to interview 20 charismatic leaders* and found amazing similarities in their life trajectories
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"